Theater

'Don't Underestimate The Guts' Of This Modern Leading Lady

Laura Osnes appears in the title role of a new Broadway production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella. Though her career began unconventionally, she's already had considerably conventional success.

The Cinderella revival includes the original music from the 1957 televised production, with a completely new, modern script. Osnes says she hopes to stay in the lead role for at least a year.

Carol Rosegg

This weekend, a new adaptation of the Rodgers and Hammerstein television classic Cinderella opens on Broadway. It stars Laura Osnes, the ingenue of the moment. But Osnes' career path has had an unusual trajectory.

Six years ago, the then-21-year-old was newly wed and fresh out of Minnesota. She landed on Broadway in the lead role of Sandy in a revival of Grease. It's not surprising that that show, about teenagers, would cast unknowns in the leads, but how she and her co-star, Max Crumm, got there was unconventional, to say the least.

Osnes won a competition on Grease: You're the One that I Want, a reality TV show that promised winners a starring slot on Broadway.

But Osnes says what she didn't want was to be just a flash in the pan.

"I let the whole Grease experience be a springboard for me," Osnes says. "I wanted to use the exposure I got from that very wisely, to continue a successful career. It's taken a lot of work and perseverance."

It's paid off. With Cinderella, Osnes will be playing her fifth lead role on Broadway in six years.

Ted Chapin, president of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization, says coming to Broadway from a reality TV show was not a "terribly welcoming circumstance."

"We don't like to be told by television audiences — well, maybe now with American Idol we can be," he says. "But for Laura to have come to this town in the lead in that Grease production, and then to have turned out to be the real deal is what's so surprising, delightful and wonderful for all of us."

Chapin got to know Osnes when she took over for Kelli O'Hara in the Tony Award-winning revival of South Pacific, shortly after she finished up in Grease.

"It's such a different, legit, mature, sophisticated set of music compared to Grease, for example, which is great for its own thing," Osnes says. "But, yes, getting to kind of legitimize my voice and my career in the Broadway community was a wonderful thing, via South Pacific."

Osnes soon found herself performing in Rodgers and Hammerstein shows — playing Maria in The Sound of Music at Carnegie Hall, and Suzy in a short run of one of their biggest flops, Pipe Dream.

"It's interesting that when you look at the world of Rodgers and Hammerstein, they did tend to write for certain kinds of voices: the baritone — the big, boomy baritone, for example," Chapin says. "But also the soprano — the soprano who may appear to be young, beautiful and sings like a bird, but who has guts. And I think that's something — don't underestimate the guts of Laura Osnes."

And when you talk to people in the business, it's Osnes' talent, combined with her work ethic, that impresses them. In fact, she has won her Broadway colleagues over, and no one has anything but praise for her. After directing and choreographing her in Grease, Kathleen Marshall cast Osnes in Cole Porter's Anything Goes.

"She keeps sort of surprising you because she's a wonderful dancer," Marshall says. "I mean, she's a beautiful dancer, which I got to take advantage of a little in Grease and even more so in Anything Goes. But she's also this incredible person."

Osnes hasn't just made her mark in revivals. Last season, she created the role of Bonnie in Frank Wildhorn's short-lived musical, Bonnie and Clyde.

"To be honest, that was the most rewarding experience, despite it not lasting long on Broadway, it still holds such a special place in my heart," Osnes says. "And will probably be, you know, one of my favorite roles and favorite experiences, just because getting to originate a role is so, just, fulfilling as an actress."

And now, she takes on the role of Cinderella.

"She's guileless," says Mark Brokaw, who is directing the new production of Cinderella. "I think she's guileless as a performer, and I think she's guileless as a human being. And she is somebody that you, you know, would like to have in your lifeboat."

Brokaw's production features a completely new, hip postmodern script by playwright Douglas Carter Beane, married to the romantic Rodgers and Hammerstein tunes.

"She, as an actress, had all the right qualities for it, and has that gravity and has that depth. But at the same time, she has that incredible vocal instrument," Brokaw says of Osnes. "You know, she can sing the part in the way that the part demands to be sung."

Marshall thinks Osnes, who's only 27, has the potential to fill some big shoes.

"When you think of sort of those — Shirley Jones and Barbara Cook — she is sort of the next descendant of that sort of line of ingenues who also will grow up to be real leading ladies," Marshall says.

While Osnes stops just shy of saying her career has been something of a fairy tale itself, she does say she's enjoying the ride.

"If all goes well here, I'll be here for a year, at least," Osnes says carefully. "So, you know, that's enough time — I don't really have to start thinking about the next thing yet. But I'm so grateful that I get to do what I love, and I've had so many opportunities, you know, to get to do it. And Cinderellais kind of just the crown on top, literally."

Cinderella opens on Broadway on Sunday night.

Copyright 2013 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

Transcript

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. I'm Scott Simon.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

SIMON: A new adaptation of the Rodgers and Hammerstein's television classic, "Cinderella," opens on Broadway this weekend. It stars Laura Osnes - the ingenue of the moment on Broadway. But as Jeff Lunden reports, her career path has had an unusual trajectory.

JEFF LUNDEN, BYLINE: Six years ago, Laura Osnes, 21 years old, newly wed and fresh out of Minnesota, landed on Broadway in the lead role of Sandy in a revival of "Grease." It's not surprising that that show, all about teenagers, would cast unknowns in the leads. But how she and her co-star Max Crumm got there was unconventional, to say the least.

(APPLAUSE)

BILLY BUSH: Welcome to the live finale of "Grease: You're the One that I Want." Millions of you voted and tonight, America crowns its winning Danny and Sandy.

LUNDEN: That's right. Laura Osnes won a competition on a reality TV show to get to Broadway.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I WANT")

LAURA OSNES AND MAX CRUMM: (as Sandy and Danny) (Singing) You're the one that I want, ooh, ooh, ooh, honey. The one that I want, you are the one I want, ooh, ooh, ooh, honey...

LUNDEN: But Osnes says what she didn't want was to be just a flash in the pan.

LAURA OSNES: I let the whole "Grease" experience be a springboard for me. I wanted to use the exposure I got from that very wisely to continue a successful career. It's taken a lot of work and perseverance.

LUNDEN: And it's paid off. With "Cinderella," Osnes will be playing her fifth lead role on Broadway in six years. Ted Chapin is president of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization.

TED CHAPIN: For somebody to start a Broadway career in such an odd circumstance, and also, frankly, not a terribly welcoming circumstance for the Broadway world - we don't like to be told by television audiences. Eh, well, maybe now with "American Idol" we can be. But for Laura to have come to this town in the lead in that "Grease" production and then to have turned out to be the real deal, is what's so surprising, delightful and wonderful for all of us.

LUNDEN: Chapin got to know her when Osnes took over for Kelli O'Hara in the Tony Award-winning revival of "South Pacific," shortly after she finished up in "Grease." Here she is at a live event sponsored by the Broadway League.

It's such a different, legit, mature, sophisticated set of music, compared to "Grease," for example - which is great for its own thing. But, yes, getting to kind of legitimize my voice and my career in the Broadway community was a wonderful thing via "South Pacific."

LUNDEN: Osnes soon found herself performing in concerts of Rodgers and Hammerstein shows - playing Maria in "The Sound of Music" at Carnegie Hall and Suzy in a short run of one of their biggest flops "Pipe Dream."

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "EVERYBODY'S GOT A HOME BUT ME")

OSNES: (as character) (Singing) And I said to myself as I walk by myself, everybody's got a home but me...

LUNDEN: Ted Chapin.

CHAPIN: It's interesting that when you look at the world of Rodgers and Hammerstein, they did tend to write for certain kinds of voices; the baritone, the big boomy baritone, for example, but also the soprano; the soprano who may appear to be young, beautiful and sings like a bird, but who has guts. And I think that's something - don't underestimate the guts of Laura Osnes.

LUNDEN: And when you talk to people in the business, it's Osnes' talent, combined with her work ethic that impresses them. In fact, she's won her Broadway colleagues over and no one has anything but praise for her. After directing and choreographing Osnes in "Grease," Kathleen Marshall cast her in Cole Porter's "Anything Goes."

KATHLEEN MARSHALL: She keeps sort of surprising you because she's a wonderful dancer. I mean, she's a beautiful dancer, which I got to take advantage of a little in "Grease" and even more so in "Anything Goes." But she's also this incredible person.

LUNDEN: Osnes hasn't just made her mark in revivals. Last season, she created the role of Bonnie in Frank Wildhorn's short-lived musical, "Bonnie and Clyde."

OSNES: To be honest, that was the most rewarding experience, despite it not lasting long on Broadway. It is still, holds such a special place in my heart. And will probably be, you know, one of my favorite roles and favorite experiences, just because getting to originate a role is so just fulfilling as an actress.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "HOW 'BOUT A DANCE?")

OSNES: (as character) (Singing) How about a dance, it's always fun, come over here, let me get to know you. Can be the band to lift your spirits...

LUNDEN: And now, she is Cinderella.

MARK BROKAW: She's guileless. I think she's guileless as a performer and I think she's guileless as a human being. And she is somebody that you, you know, would like to have in your lifeboat.

LUNDEN: Mark Brokaw is directing the production, which features a completely new, hip post-modern script by playwright Douglas Carter Beane, married to the romantic Rodgers and Hammerstein tunes.

BROKAW: She, as an actress, had all the right quality for it and has that gravity and that depth, but at the same time, she has that incredible vocal instrument. You know, she can sing the part in the way the part demands to be sung.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "IN MY OWN LITTLE CORNER")

OSNES: (as Cinderella) (Singing) In my own little corner, in my own little chair, I can be whatever I want to be...

LUNDEN: Kathleen Marshall thinks Osnes, who's only 27, has the potential to fill some big shoes.

MARSHALL: When you think of sort of those Shirley Jones and Barbara Cook, she is sort of the next descendant of that sort of line of ingenues who also will grow up to be real leading ladies.

LUNDEN: While Laura Osnes stops just shy of saying her career has been something of a fairy tale itself, she's enjoying the ride.

OSNES: If all goes well here, I'll be here for a year, at least. So, you know, that's enough time. I don't really have to start thinking about the next thing yet. But I'm so grateful that I get to do what I love and I've had so many opportunities, you know, to get to do it. And "Cinderella" is kind of just the crown on top, literally.